Why Chaplaincy?

Source: Unknown

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.  If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."

John 15:9-13                

     

     I was recently given occasion to briefly answer a question -- "Why do you want to be an Army chaplain?" The following was my formal, written response: 

           

     My desire to enter the Army Chaplain Corps is rooted in three central principles that guide my life and shape my identity: family history and tradition, my call to ministry and my core belief to love   G-d and love others without reservation. 

     Growing up I was surrounded by veterans.  My dad and his brother served in the US Navy.  Their dad, a first generation American, served in the US Army before them.  In addition, my maternal grandfather served in the US Navy, as well as many others on that side of the family.  Today, I have nephews who serve or have served in the Navy and the Air Force.  I was blessed to marry a Navy veteran, who also has a rich family history of service to our nation.  These men have modeled to me the value of sacrifice and integrity; not only through their service, but in every aspect of their lives beyond the military.  Through them I learned of the honor it is to love others through military service. My grandfather’s inspiration and influence in my life did not stop at his military stories.  In fact, I do not even remember many because although he was a World War II Veteran, he died at 95 years old believing that he was not a hero.  He could not have been more wrong.  His time spent in service to our country shaped and molded him into the man that would eventually become my grandfather – my hero.  That man, more than any other person in my life, helped to form and nurture my call from the young age of five years old. 

     My call to ministry, like that of many, is a lifelong journey with steady, strong steps and even some quirky, little sidesteps.  Nevertheless, it is a story that has led me to respond affirmatively to the call of being a pastor.  Over the years, I have served in many different ministry contexts, to include anti-trafficking efforts, homeless shelters, street-level ministry, national speaking engagements and local congregations.  All of this was because of foundations that were laid in my life through my grandpa.  I want to reciprocate the love and sacrifice that I have seen by caring for and guiding people.

     As diverse as my ministry contexts have been, there have been two constants in each of them.  The first is that entering into each context was motivated by my deep desire to love  G-d with all that I am, and "to love my neighbor as myself" (Mark 12:30-31, NIV).  This is my core belief.  It is the commandment that Jesus said is above all else.  In the book of John, chapter 15, Jesus is recorded as saying “greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” 

     The second constant of my ministry experience is the presence of Veterans.  No matter the stage I was standing on, the kitchen I was serving food from or the rooms that I have washed feet in, Veterans were present.  Some simply present, listening for whatever reason brought them, but many suffering from loss or trauma that left them addicted, homeless, trafficked, or just needing someone they could trust.  G-d began to break my heart for Soldiers.  I was left asking myself, “Could you love, care for and serve these people who  daily lay down their lives for others? Would you being willing to follow their example and serve them?”

The answer to that question was easy and yet, I am certain the process is going to be one of the most difficult things in my life.  Regardless, I am confident that becoming an Army chaplain will be one of the greatest steps in my journey because it flows from my identity that is rooted in my family history and tradition, my call to ministry and my core belief to love G-d and love others without reservation.

     

Err In Love

SCRIPTURE:

1 Corinthians 8:1-9

Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up.  if anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God. Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.”  For all though there may be so called gods in heaven or on earth — as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”—yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through him we exist.  However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.  Food will not committed us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.

THOUGHTS:

Yesterday, I sat with and meditated on Psalm 111.  I encourage you to go read it. It is a psalm that describes the splendor and majesty of the Lord. It tells of His graciousness, mercy, faithfulness and justice. It declares that the Lord is indeed holy and awesome because it is He who acts and initiates. It is He who reveals and illuminates. He calls and delivers and He directs and commissions and His love and covenant endure forever.

The text above are the words of Paul, written to one of his congregations, about the things that they know about G-d and of the ways that those things should inform their behaviors. Paul, right off the bat, admits that we all have knowledge. We all know what we know. We all have practices, doctrines, rules and ways in which we choose to live. That knowledge often times sets us apart in ways that G-d never intended us to be set apart. This is the “puffs up” that Paul speaks of.  Our perceived knowledge of G-d and His ways presents occasionally as "holier than thou." We imagine that what we know is the only good and right thing, forsaking all else as wrong. Paul gently reminds his readers that if we imagine that we know something, we must also acknowledge that we do not know all things and even that we could be wrong. But there is one thing according to Paul that we know for certain and that is that we are loved by G-d. Psalm 111 reminds us of this reality.

If there is one thing for certain about our holy and awesome G-d is that He has given all to prove and to show the depth of His love and grace for each and everyone of us. Think about it -- Jesus washed the feet, sat at the table with and extended unconditional love to the very disciple who would betray him (John 13). While Paul is talking about a specific issue of what to eat and what not to eat there are great truths that we can extrapolate from his words.

Not everyone understands the depth of the love of G-d for them. They may understand that and still fall in a different spectrum of belief than you. The walks of others will look different than yours. In fact, if we are honest with ourselves they may do some things right that we are doing wrong. But Paul’s encouragement tells us that we can trust what G-d has done in us and is doing through us. His love and empowerment is something that endures forever. Many of the things that we think matter towards our salvation, simply put, do not.

Paul, in talking about food sacrificed to idols, does not prohibit his readers from entering temples dedicated to idols. In fact, he says a little later in the text that when you are in the temple of idols remember to love.  Our faith in Jesus Christ is not to separate us or take us out of the world, but instead meant to guide us as we live life in this world.

Paul's direction is that we err on the side of love, not doctrine, not our knowledge, but instead love.  Paul's direction is to trust the love and grace that has been given to you extends beyond your imagination to others.  Give the love that you have been given.

ACTION:

How will you err on the side of love today? What "knowledge" do you need to set aside in order to love someone right where they are? In what ways do you need to humble yourself and love better?

PRAYER:

Gracious G-d, You alone are worthy.  You alone are holy and awesome.  Help us today to err in love. Help us today to choose to love the unlovable, to break bread with our enemies and our friends.  Help us to love more deeply.  Amen.